Governor Dauda Lawal Advocates Digital Transformation for Inclusive Governance in Africa

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has called for stronger continental cooperation to drive Africa’s digital transformation agenda. Speaking at the Digital Government Africa Summit in Lusaka, Zambia, Governor Lawal emphasized that technology must become “the new backbone of statecraft,” powering institutions, education, and economic productivity across the continent.

The Governor highlighted Zamfara’s alignment with Nigeria’s National Digital Economy Policy, revealing that the state has launched an e-GovConnect platform to automate government processes and improve accountability. He also noted the creation of the Zamfara Institute of Information Technology (ZIIT) and digital literacy programs aimed at equipping citizens from students to entrepreneur with relevant tech skills.

Lawal announced that Zamfara will soon host the Arewa Tech Festival, Northern Nigeria’s largest technology gathering, to position the state as a regional hub for digital innovation. He underscored the importance of data protection and cybersecurity, stressing that “every digital transformation must be anchored on trust.”

Concluding, Governor Lawal urged African nations to deepen broadband access, build secure data centers, and foster regional cooperation. “The measure of success,” he said, “is not in the number of systems deployed, but in the lives transformed.”